There are many hazards which are a threat to human health and safety in underground coal mines. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, coal miners are more likely to become killed or sustain an illness or injury than workers in private industry in general. Despite these threats, the U.S. relies on the mining of coal to meet its electricity needs. For this reason, the coal mining industry must continue to find ways to protect its workers.
It is important to consider the role of human behavior and attitudes in achieving a safe coal mine. One way to improve the health and safety of coal miners is through emphasizing a positive safety culture. Safety culture is the characteristics of the work environment, such as the norms, rules, and common understandings that influence facility personnel’s perceptions of the importance that the organization places on safety. Implementing a positive safety culture has led to improvements in workplace safety and health in numerous other industries.
In order to improve the safety and health of coal miners, the present safety culture must first be assessed. NIOSH researchers in conjunction with an outside contractor will assess the safety culture at underground coal mines and make recommendations for all underground coal mines to create a positive safety culture.
NIOSH Projects and Activities
Project
Objective
Assessing the Safety Culture of Underground Coal Mining
Assess the safety culture of U.S. underground coal mines to determine the characteristics of a positive safety culture and of a negative safety culture; recommend specific ways that safety culture can be improved in underground coal mining by creating a model of the attributes of a positive safety culture
Contracts and Grants
Title
Contractor/Agency
Objective
Assessing the Safety Culture of Mines (254-2009-M-29054)
Human Performance Analysis Corporation
Train NIOSH personel in methods specific to safety culture analysis; assist in the analysis of safety culture at several coal mines
Safety Culture Assessment in Coal Mining (254-2006-M-17202)
Human Performance Analysis Corporation
Conduct a pilot test of a safety culture assessment methodology at a small underground coal mine
References
Publications
Safety Culture Assessment in Underground Coal Mining Human Performance Analysis, Corp. | Human Performance Analysis, Corp., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Final Report Contract No. 254-2006-M-17202, August 24, 2007, 1-23